Alabama

BayBears nip Biscuits in 12th 4-3 to take 2-1 series lead

Mobile's Alfredo Marte (21) drives in Mark Krauss (25) in the second inning against the Montgomery Biscuits Saturday, June 23, 2012, at Hank Aaron Stadium in Mobile, Ala. Marte tried to stretch his hit out to third base, but was thrown out. (Press-Register/Mike Kittrell)

Matt Davidson's bases-loaded fielder's choice scored the winning run in the 12th inning Saturday night as the Mobile BayBears rallied to beat the Montgomery Biscuits 4-3 at Hank Aaron Stadium.

The third time was the charm for the BayBears, who threatened in every extra inning.

Davidson's grounder was fielded by third baseman Greg Sexton, whose throw to second base for the forceout on speedy Evan Frey

was not in time, allowing Wladimir Sutil to score the winning run and end a game that took three hours and 45 minutes.

Montgomery's bullpen came up empty again, blowing its second save in as many games.

Sutil walked off losing pitcher Marquis Fleming (3-2) to start the inning, and advanced to third on Rossmel Perez's single to right.

After an intentional walk, Fleming struck out Chris Owings to bring up Mobile's top home run hitter. Instead, all it took was a hard-hit infield ground ball to give Mobile a 2-1 lead in the series.

Bryan Woodall (3-0) pitched a scoreless 12th for the win, though Yonata Ortega and Matt Gorgen should take a bow, too. Mobile trailed until the ninth when the BayBears tied it off Montgomery closer Kirby Yates. It was the 15th blown save for the Biscuits, who have 85 hits in their last eight games and have a 4-4 record.

Davidson singled and Marc Krauss walked. Both runners moved up on Dan Kaczrowski's sacrifice. Yazy Arbelo's groundout made it 3-2, then Yates uncorked a wild pitch with David Nick at the plate to score Krauss and send it to extra innings.

The Biscuits loaded the bases in the 10th off a former teammate, Gorgen, with one out. Omar Luna's grounder up the middle was grabbed by shortstop Chris Owings, who turned the inning-ending double play.

Rossmel Perez walked with one out in the 10th and Frey doubled into the Biscuits bullpen in left field off Yates. Perez was waved home, but left fielder Luna hit cutoff man Hak-Ju Lee, whose throw to the plate got Perez. Owings struck out to leave Frey at third base.

Tyler Bortnick doubled in two runs put the Biscuits up 3-1 in the sixth inning. Bortnick's hit over the head of left fielder Kaczrowski in the sixth inning broke a 1-1 tie.

Mobile starter David Holmberg once again didn't get any bat support. His first loss was to Pensacola on a no-hitter. He left after giving up three runs on seven hits in eight innings.

It didn't help that Mobile's hottest hitter, outfielder Alfredo Marte, left after five inning with tightness in his legs. He drove in Mobile's first run.

Holmberg gave up back-to-back singles with one out in the sixth. Ryan Garko hit into a fielder's choice for the second out, but Bortnick delivered the go-ahead hit before being thrown out trying to stretch it to third base. Garko crossed the plate for the third run before the third out for a 3-1 lead.

Montgomery starter Jacob Thompson scattered three hits, but when he gave up a one-out walk in the seventh on his 92nd pitch. Biscuits manager Billy Gardner Jr. went to the bullpen for left-hander Adam Liberatore.

Liberatore got Arbelo to foul out to third before Nick singled to put runners at first and second for pinch-hitter Sutil grounded out to third, however, to end the threat.

For the third straight game, the Biscuits took an early lead, scoring a run in the first on back-to-back singles and OMar Luna's double play grounder to shortstop.

Mobile tied it in the second on back-to-back doubles by Krauss and Marte.